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Curaçao🇨🇼 | beachesTugboat BeachTugboat wreck, free entry, narrow strip, picnic beach | things to do and best time to go

Explore Playa Porto MariExplore Willemstad

Backpacking in Tugboat Beach
👀 For curious travelersbeach ranked #8
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 22, 2026

Tugboat Beach is free to enter, and the parking is free too, which is rare on an island where many beaches charge for a lounger the moment you arrive. It sits on Curaçao’s sheltered southeast coast, in the Jan Thiel and Caracasbaai direction from Willemstad, with a rusting tugboat wreck just offshore. The sand is a small, narrow strip and the water is calm, shallow and clean, with easy snorkeling right off the beach. Weekends fill up with local families and the shade vanishes, so arrive on a weekday morning. Facilities are limited to a small dive shop that rents gear and sells drinks, so bring snacks from a supermarket in town. Unlike nearby Caracasbaai, which is bigger and has more services, Tugboat Beach is smaller, quieter and more about the wreck.

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✨ Why go?
Ranked #8 beach in CuraçaoReasons people choose to visit here

Tugboat Beach gives backpackers a quick, no-cost snorkel stop on the southern coast, which is why it works so well between Willemstad and the beaches further along. The old tugboat sits only a short swim from shore in shallow water, so you don’t need a boat, a guide or any gear beyond a mask. Rental cars and shared rides make it simple to add on to a day of exploring, and since there is no entrance fee, it suits a tight budget. The water is usually calm enough for beginners to try snorkeling for the first time. You can also have a swim, dry off on the sand and carry on within an hour or two, which keeps it flexible. Bring your own food, because few options are close by. Most people stay a short while, so it stays peaceful outside weekends.

💡 HighlightsThe experiences that define the visit

  1. The Tugboat Wreck: the rusted hull that gives the beach its name lies in shallow water a short swim from shore. Fish gather around the metal, and the depth is gentle enough for novice snorkelers.
  2. Snorkeling the Shallows: the sheltered, calm water over sand and small patches of reef lets you float and watch fish without strong currents.
  3. Swimming in Calm Water: the bay stays gentle most days, so it suits a relaxed dip, including for those who dislike waves.
  4. Photographing the Wreck: the contrast of the corroded boat against turquoise water makes a distinctive shot, especially in clear daylight.
  5. A Beach Picnic: with no restaurants right on the sand, packing your own food and drinks and eating on the small beach is the local way to spend an afternoon.
For a first visit, start with the tugboat wreck, … read more 👉
  1. The Tugboat Wreck: the rusted hull that gives the beach its name lies in shallow water a short swim from shore. Fish gather around the metal, and the depth is gentle enough for novice snorkelers.
  2. Snorkeling the Shallows: the sheltered, calm water over sand and small patches of reef lets you float and watch fish without strong currents.
  3. Swimming in Calm Water: the bay stays gentle most days, so it suits a relaxed dip, including for those who dislike waves.
  4. Photographing the Wreck: the contrast of the corroded boat against turquoise water makes a distinctive shot, especially in clear daylight.
  5. A Beach Picnic: with no restaurants right on the sand, packing your own food and drinks and eating on the small beach is the local way to spend an afternoon.
For a first visit, start with the tugboat wreck, since it is the reason to come and the easiest swim to reach.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

Things to do around Tugboat Beach

The Curacao Full Day Private Tour Experience

The Curacao Full Day Private Tour Experience

5.0(610)
From €141
per personViator
Willemstad, Fort Beekenburg, and Curacao Liqueur Tour

Willemstad, Fort Beekenburg, and Curacao Liqueur Tour

4.8(4) 5h
From €64
per personViator

Ratings based on Tripadvisor reviews. When you book through this link, you support our work at no extra cost to you.

🌤️ When to go?Weather, crowds, and seasonal trade-offs

  • Dry Season (February to September): Wind off the Caribbean keeps highs near 30 to 32°C (86 to 90°F) and the water around 26 to 28°C (79 to 82°F). Showers are brief and rare. Tugboat Beach stays calm and visibility on the wreck is at its best.
  • Rainy Season (October to January): Short, heavy downpours arrive, mostly in November and December, and humidity climbs. Temperatures barely move, with nights near 25°C (77°F). Rooms and rental cars often cost 20 to 30 percent less.
  • Holiday Peaks: Dutch school breaks in July and August and the Christmas weeks fill the nearby resorts and the small beach, so weekends feel busy.
  • Daylight: Days run about 11 to 13 hours, so plan the snorkeling for mid-morning, when the sun is high and the light penetrates the shallows.
Book a weekday visit in April or May for calm water, fewer people and lower prices.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: excellent for travelingFEBFebruary: excellent for travelingMARMarch: excellent for travelingAPRApril: excellent for travelingMAYMay: good for travelingJUNJune: good for travelingJULJuly: good for travelingAUGAugust: good for travelingSEPSeptember: good for travelingOCTOctober: good for travelingNOVNovember: highly recommended for travelingDECDecember: highly recommended for traveling
curacao-beach-tugboat-beach
© Google | Papagayo Beach Hotel Curacao

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🛏️ Where to stay?Choosing the right base

Jan Thiel is the nearest practical base, with Tugboat Beach about a 10 to 15 minute drive away and a cluster of budget apartments and guesthouses along the main road. It is quiet at night but has supermarkets, restaurants, and a beach scene that is easy to share with other travelers. Rooms start around US$60 to 90 a night, and sharing keeps that down.

Willemstad, particularly Pietermaai and Punda, is where most solo backpackers end up. Dorms and cheap rooms in Pietermaai run roughly US$25 to 50, the bars and restaurants make it easy to meet people, and the old streets are good to walk after dark. … read more 👉
Jan Thiel is the nearest practical base, with Tugboat Beach about a 10 to 15 minute drive away and a cluster of budget apartments and guesthouses along the main road. It is quiet at night but has supermarkets, restaurants, and a beach scene that is easy to share with other travelers. Rooms start around US$60 to 90 a night, and sharing keeps that down.

Willemstad, particularly Pietermaai and Punda, is where most solo backpackers end up. Dorms and cheap rooms in Pietermaai run roughly US$25 to 50, the bars and restaurants make it easy to meet people, and the old streets are good to walk after dark. Reaching the beach takes about 20 to 25 minutes by car, and you will want to rent one, since buses to this side of the island are limited.

Spanish Water and Caracasbaai sit close by too, with a few guesthouses and dive operators, a calmer choice if you plan to snorkel or dive daily and don't need nightlife.


Best quality hotels in Curaçao

🛡️ SafetyScams, Hazards, and Annoyances

Tugboat Beach is a small, sheltered bay with calm water, and most visitors swim here without trouble. There are no real rips or surf, and the sea is usually flat in the morning before the trade wind picks up. The tugboat wreck sits only a short swim from shore in shallow water. Boats do pass nearby, so keep close to the shoreline and use a bright float if you swim out. Sea urchins and sharp coral lurk on the rocky edges, so wear water shoes when you enter. The sun is strong all year, with little shade, so bring reef-safe sunscreen and water. Cars parked in the lot have been broken into on this coast, so leave nothing visible inside and carry only what you need to the sand.
Check Country Safety

FAQCommon questions from travelers

Tugboat Beach lies about 15 to 25 minutes by car from central Willemstad, on the southeast coast near Caracasbaai and Jan Thiel. Renting a car costs roughly US$30 to 50 a day and is the easiest option, since public buses on this stretch are infrequent. A taxi from Willemstad usually runs US$20 to 30 each way. The small parking area fills up on weekends.
Tugboat Beach is best for snorkeling and relaxed swimming. The sheltered bay has calm, clear water, and the sunken tugboat sits only a few meters offshore in about 5 meters (16 feet) of depth, with reef fish around it. There is no surf, so surfers should look elsewhere. Bring your own mask and fins, or rent a set in nearby Jan Thiel for about US$8 to 15 a day.
Tugboat Beach is free to enter, and there is no charge for the small public parking area. You can bring your own gear and snorkel the wreck at no cost. Chairs and umbrellas are available on some days from vendors for roughly US$5 to 10, and a snack or drink nearby costs about US$3 to 8. Pay in US dollars or local florins, since both are widely accepted.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other Curaçaoan beaches near Tugboat Beach

Explore more nearby:

  • Jan Thiel Beach—Beach clubs, flat water, pelicans, lounge evenings| 2 km away
  • Mambo Beach—Boulevard bars, breakwater bay, Sunday parties, DJ nights| 5 km away
  • Klein Curaçao—Boat-only island, turtle grass, lighthouse, wrecked hull| 25 km away

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We 💚 feedbackSumming up the experience

Tugboat Beach is at its best on a weekday morning, when the water is glassy, the fish are active and the sand is nearly empty. Come between the dry months for the clearest visibility, and skip weekends if you want quiet. I would bring a mask, water and a snack.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on in-depth research, insights shared by experienced travelers, and feedback from the local travel community in Curaçao. While every effort is made to keep the information accurate and current, conditions can change — so if you spot anything incorrect or outdated, please get in touch.



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